The art of science of Fengshui is
increasingly gaining recognition among real estate professionals and even in
town planning, and is closely related to the practice of Vaastu. It is
basically a tool to harmonize and align the dwelling place and is concerned
with the flow of 'Chi' the Chinese term for movement of energy, in order to
release blocked energy which may have an effect in the corresponding areas of
our lives. Nowadays, Fengshui is known to maintain the value of real estate
holdings and even in countries like the USA and Canada, buyers often prefer a
property that has been approved by a Fengshui expert.
Fengshui gives importance and
relevance to the five elements of water, wood, fire, earth and metal. It
focuses on aligning the general layout of the dwelling and creating a balance
in order to enhance the flow of Chi. It seeks to do this through the strategic
placing of doors, windows, furniture, cots and stove. In addition, factors such
as ventilation, the source of water and levels of the land must be in the right
order so that the right place, approach and tuning can be achieved.
Nowadays there are many
self-styled experts on Vaasthu and Fengshui who have distorted their use
through offers like 'single window' services, often lumping it together with
gemology, astrology and numerology. It has become non-functional because of the
wrong advice imparted by such folk to clients. One must also remember that
there is no dwelling which can be described as being 100% Vaasthu or Fengshui
perfect. It certainly does not offer a remedy for controlling the force of
birth of death, but rather improves our capacity to think and function better.
In Singapore, the town has been
planned in keeping with the Fengshui texts known as the 'secrets of the 5
dragons,' that involve mountains, water resources and the movement of traffic
as mean of creating prosperity for the country. In Taiwan and Malaysia,
services of Fengshui experts are often used to assess the value of the property
and to increase its worth before offering it to prospective buyers. Fengshui
services are included in the offer of a single window service by The Appraisal
Institute of Canada. Some great international corporations such as the Chase
Manhattan Bank, Citibank and Morgan Guaranty Trust in Hong Kong and Taiwan do
not hesitate to employ experts in this art for the help.
From the perspective of Fengshui,
a house is not just a physical structure but is an entity that can either
nurture your life or undermine it. It believes that the flow of Chi is what
really decides the value of your property. People are automatically attracted
to a home that has an abundance of positively flowing chi. There is a distinct
relationship between the value of a property and good Fengshui. Homes with good
Chi often command high prices in any neighborhood. Those homes that sit on the
market longest are the ones in which energy is blocked and stagnant.
Earlier it was considered ideal
for a home to have the famous Chinese green dragon-white tiger design in it.
This means that there should be certain levels in the house, e.g. the back
should be higher than the front and the right side should be lower than the
left. This was supposed to protect the centre of the house and was known as the
armchair design. Since it is difficult to create such levels in modern day life
and as we cannot control the shapes of neighbouring buildings, one could adapt
the method by planting trees or using lights mounted on poles to create a
higher back effect in a house.
Some guidelines are available to
ensure that your house is in harmony with the principles of Fengshui. One could
explore the area to see if the design is harmonious and has a sense of beauty.
Environmental pollution, the condition of sewage drains and the presence of
high tension wires etc., could be noted. The appearance of the front door of
the house is important. A front door has the ability to either welcome you or
drive you away. Opportunities are supposed to enter through it and it should
convey a feeling of pride.
Another important thing to note
is the feel and smell of the house. Is there a light and airy feeling or a dark
and ominous effect? If it is situated on a blind alley, the flow of chi will be
blocked and will have no outlet. You must also see whether the house is
situated at a T-junction or a cross road. You should also walk around and
examine the house foundation, as it will eventually decide your life
experiences. It should be solid without any cracks. Symmetrical shapes are
ideal and offsets and angles should be avoided as they indicate fragmentation.
A road is said to conduct CHI
energy throughout the environment and traffic movements. It is not good to live
near highways and busy roads. Neither is
it considered healthy to be situated at the end of a road or at a T junction.
In this case, putting up a hedge of healthy green plants would act as a shield.
On the other hand you could reposition the door or put up a porch. Another
method is to use mirrors, but one has to be careful of danger to oncoming
vehicles at night.
Buildings which are at an
eye-level with or under a flyover are not good as the home is likely to feel
drained of energy and oppressed. If the flyover appears to bend and cut through
the building it is particularly harmful and one way to avoid this is to use
dark glasses on the window panes. Another method to overcome the overpowering
effect of the flyover is to put up the lights at the four corners of the house,
focused towards the lower surface of the flyover.
A noteworthy feature is whether
the garage is detached or not. A detached garage is best as it allows Chi to
move around freely. You should also check the ceiling for watermarks and make
sure that there are plenty of windows. It is considered inauspicious to have
bathrooms and kitchens in the centre.
Even if your home is having some
basic features which are out of harmony with the guidelines of Fengshui, it can
be adapted though it may not be a perfect solution. Homes of this kind are
known to exhibit a remarkable change after being corrected through the art of
Fengshui.
Fengshui seeks to make your
dwelling place supportive to its occupants and gives practical ways to adjust
yourselves to the surroundings and the environment.
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